Crime rose 13.5 per cent in the Central district in the first seven months of this year, compared with an overall increase of 1.7 per cent citywide, police revealed yesterday. Commissioner of Police Tang King-shing said 1,606 crimes were reported in Central, with thefts and deceptions pushing up the figure, while 47,000 crime reports were received in total.

The 30-month sentence of a man who cheated investors out of more than HK$1.26 million has been cut by six months. Au Wing-kun, 53, pleaded guilty in the District Court to four fraud counts and one of theft after taking money from four people and spending it.